Speaking-tube for trains.



Patanted Mar. 4, I902.

3. s. BOYD.

SPEAKING TUBE=FOR TRAINS.

(Application filed June 13, 1901.)

2 Sheets-$heot I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Mar. 4, I902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(Appl'lation filed June 13. 1901.)

SPEAKING TUBE FOR TRAINS.

(No Model.)

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SANFORD STENART BOYD, OF LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPEAKING-TUBE FOR TRAlNS.

SEPECIFICATIQN forming part (Bf Letters Patent No. 694,825, dated March4, 1902. Application filed June 18,1901. Serial No. 64,416. (No model.)

To (oZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SANFORD STEWART BOYD, a citizen of the United Statesresiding atLaurens, in the county of Laurens and State of SouthCarolina, (whose post-office address is Laurens, South Carolina,) haveinvented new and useful Improvements in S peakin g-Tubes for Trains, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in speaking-tubes, and contemplatesthe equipment of railway-cars and locomotives and their tenders withtube-sections which when the cars are coupled together and to alocomotive are adapted to form a continuous main tube, through themedium of which a trainman or other person located at an intermediatepoint in the length of the train or at the rear end thereof is enabledto conveniently converse with the engineer in. the cab of thelocomotive.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood fromthe following description and claims when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view, partfly in sideelevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating two box-cars asequipped with my improved speaking-tube sections, the cars being shownas coupled and the speaking-tube sections in proper relative positionsto form a continuous speaking-tube. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating thespeaking-tube sections in plan and the cars in dotted lines. Fig. is ahorizontal section illustrative of the appurtenances at the meeting endsof two tube-sections. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one endof one speaking-tube section and the appurtenances thereof. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 6 is a transversesection taken in the plane indicated by the line 6 (3 of Fig. 5, andFig. 7 is a detail section taken in the plane indicated by the line 7 7of Fig. 1.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts inall of the several views, referring to which-- A A are two cars of thelJOX or freight type provided with couplings and otherwise of theordinaryconstruction, and O G are longitudinal main tube-sections, oneof which is employed on each car. These main tubes in the preferredembodiment of the invention are formed of metal and disposed below andconnected to the floor of the car by hangers a. They are providedadjacent to one end of their respective cars with branch tubes Z), whichextend at an angle to the main tubes and through the roofs of the carsand are provided in turn with mouthpieces 0 within the car and also withlateral arms d, the latter reaching through the side walls of the carsand terminating in mouthpieces d, located at the outer sides of the carsat a convenient distance from the ground or road-bed. The tubes 6 areprovided at their upper ends with mouthpieces b, and the arms (Z arelikewise equipped at their outer ends with mouthpieces d. Thesemouthpieces b d, in common with the mouthpieces c, are equipped withnormally closed valves to exclude dust and dirt from the interior of thetube-sections, and since the said valves are similar in construction adetail description of the one shown in Fig. 7 will su-flice to impart anunderstanding of all. As will be readily observed by reference to saidfigure, the mouthpiece c is provided with a diaphragm 6, having avalveseat f, and is also provided with a longitudinal slot g, thelatterbeing designed to permit of movement of the finger-piece 71 on the stemi of a valve j, which is backed by a spring A and normally held therebyin the closed position shown for the purpose before stated. When it isdesired to use the speaking-tube, the user has but to press the valve jaway from its seat, when a free passage for the voice will be affordedthrough the opening in the diaphragm c.

lVhen my improved main tube-sections C are applied to passenge-coaches,the mouthpieces 0 on the branches b and within the coaches will alone beemployed, the extension of the branches Z) through the roofs of the carbein g dispensed with and the lateral arms (1 also being dispensed with.I desire it understood, however, that where the conditions are such asto make it preferable to employ the lateral arms (Z in passenger-coachesthe same may be done.

At their oppositeends the main tube-sections 0 are connected to rubbertube-sections D, and these sections D are connected in ICO turn totubular end pieces E, of metal. The tubular end pieces are surrounded bysleeves F, hung from the couplings B of the car, and coiled springs Gare interposed between collars H on the end pieces and flanges I at theinner ends of the sleeves to take up shock and jar when the ends of theend pieces E meetend pieces E are provided with diaphragms 19, havingvalve-seats q, and valves P, which are provided with stems Q, movable inguides in the end pieces E and are backed by springs R. The said springsR normally hold thevalves P to their seats, and thereby preclude theentry of dust into the speaking-tube sections when the ends of. the saidsections are not together.- The springs R also serve to normally holdthe outer end portions of the valve-stems Q in an extended position, as

shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and since said outer.

end portions of the stems are provided with heads or enlargements S itwill be seen that when the end pieces E meet incident to the coupling oftwo cars together or the coupling of one of the cars to a locomotivesimilarly equipped the valves P will be pressed away from their seatsafter the manner shown in Fig. 3, and consequently free passage for thevoice will be afiorded through the diaphragms p. t

The cone-shaped projection-L on one of the tubular end pieces E serves,in conjunction with the socket M on the complementary end piece E, andthe cone-shaped projection on the latter end piece serves, inconjunction with the cone shaped socket on the firstnamed end piece, toguide the cushioned ends of the said end pieces together incident. tothe coupling of the two cars, and thereby insure the making of anair-tight and dust-proof connection between the two tube-sections O.

The tube-section applied to the locomotive (not shown) is similar tothose shown in Fig.

. 1, with the exception that it isprovided with a branch which extendsinto the locomotivecab and is equipped at a point convenient to theengineers seat with a valve-mouthpiece similar in construction tothatshown in Fig. 7.

When a locomotive equipped with one of my improved tube-sections isconnected to a train of cars similarly equipped," it will be readilyobserved that a person within or on top of any one of the cars orstanding at the side of the same may conveniently signal and,

if desired, hold a conversation with the engineer. It will also beobserved that a conversation may be easily carried on: by persons 10- orto connecting the sections automatically, as

when desired the connection may be effected by hand. I also do notdesire to be understood as confining myself to the specific constructionand relative arrangement of parts asherein pointed out, as such changesor modi-- fications may be made in practice as fairly fall within thescope of my claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

. 1. The combination of avehicle,amain tube or tube-section carriedthereby, and a tubing extending at an angle to the main tube, andprovided with a mouthpiece; the said main tube extending to one end ofthe vehicle and 'being provided at its end with means adapted to engagesimilar means upon a similar tube in another vehicle.

, 2. The combination of a vehicle,amain tube or tube-section carriedthereby, and a tubing extending at an angle to the. main tube andprovided with a mouthpiece and also with a normally closed valve; thesaid main tube extending to one end of the vehicle and being provided atits end with a normally closed valve, and means adapted to engagesimilar means upon a similar tube in another vehicle. 3. The combinationof a vehicle, ametallic tube-section carried thereby and extending to apoint adjacent to one end thereof, a flexible tube connected to such endof the tubular section, a. tubular end piece connected to the flexibletube and having a collar, a cushioned flange at its forward end, and theopposite cone-shaped projection and socket and also having a diaphragmprovided with a valveseat, a spring-pressed valve normally resting insaid seat and havingits stem extended beyond the end of the end piece tobe engaged by the stem of a valve carried by a similar tubular sectionon another vehicle, and means for guiding its end into engagement withthe end of such similar tubular section, a sleeve hung from the vehicleand surrounding the tubular end piece and having an abutment,

and'a coiled spring also surrounding the'tubular end piece andinterposed between the collar thereon and the abutment of the sleeve.

4:. I The combination of a railwayscar, a main,

lar end pieces and having abutlnents, and coiled springs alsosurrounding the tubular end pieces and interposed between the collarthereon and the abutments of the sleeves.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set My hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

SANFORD STEWART BOYD. Witnesses:

W. H. MARTIN, GEO. H. BALENTINE.

